Jayalalithaa blames PMK for violence

Chennai, April 29 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Monday blamed the Vanniyar caste party PMK for April 25 violence at Marakkanam near here and said compensation will be paid to the victims.

She said a case has been registered against PMK leader S. Ramadoss.

Replying to a special calling attention motion in the state assembly on the violent incidents at Marakkanam, Jayalalithaa blamed the PMK and its leader Ramadoss for the hate speech April 25 at the party's youth conference at Mallapuram, around 70 km from here.

She said the PMK party went against the commitments it made to the authorities while securing the permission to hold the event.

The chief minister said the government accorded permission to the event as in the past organisations approached the courts and got permission to hold such events.

According to her, police acted in a responsible manner and brought the situation under their control.

She announced a compensation of Rs.50,000 each from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund to those whose properties were damaged in the violence, and said houses will be built for those who lost their homes.

Jayalalithaa said Rs.25,000 would be given to three people who suffered injuries and Rs.10,000 to 17 people who suffered minor injuries.

Citing the posters of the slain notorious sandalwood smuggler Veerappan during the conference, Jayalalithaa wondered whether the PMK wanted the youths to follow in Veerappan's footsteps.